NDFP losing patience with PNoy

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Posted at 11/15/2011 9:49 AM | Updated as of 11/15/2011 1:32 PM

The National Democratic Front Panel is losing patience at the "continued snobbery" of the government of President Benigno Aquino III to its demands in order for the stalled peace negotiations to resume.

"There is an ongoing civil war in the Philippines and it will not stop. The revolutionary movement will continue their armed struggle if there will be no remedy to the NDFP's listed 10 impediments or problems in its peace negotiations with the Government of the Philippines or GPH."

Such were the words of CPP Founding Chair Jose Maria Sison when interviewed by ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau after the press conference at the NDF Headquarters in Utrecht.

The NDFP said it is growing impatient because the GPH remains aloof towards the resumption of peace talks.

Now taking the offensive, the NDFP presented on Monday the prominent international lawyers who will make up its newly formed International Legal Advisory Team or ILAT.

ILAT's mission will be to provide exclusive and confidential pro-bono counsel and assistance to NDFP in matters of law arising from and/or related to the peace negotiations.

The NDFP said it doesn't aim to intimidate the GPH with the formation of ILAT.

"Hindi naman takutin. Pakita na maraming suporta kaya mga prestigious international law experts ito from different countries na they are willing to provide legal assistance. At lumalawak ang solidarity for the Filipino people at for the National Democratic Front all over the world. Pati sa Canada, sa U.S., sa New Zealand, yung trade unions have spoken up for the advance of the peace talks and against the obstacles being put by the government of the Philippines," NDFP chair Luis Jalandoni said.

The press conference gained a lot of interest from the international media and local press in the Philippines as well who joined the video conference.

According to ILAT, the Philippine government's refusal to sit on the negotiating table is a major violation of the human rights of Filipinos.

"The government claims to represent the Filipino people, claims to be elected by the Filipino people, said in public that it intends to negotiate in good faith with the NDFP. Now if it seeks to walk away from the negotiating table then it's betraying itself and it betrays the people it represents," ILAT member and U.K. lawyer Richard Harvey said.

Sison said that soon, the Filipinos will explode just like in the major protests, where the "Occupy Movements" worldwide are rooted because the situation in the Philippines now is grave.

"Kasi ang sistemang naghahari sa Pilipinas, manghihina. Lalo na ngayon yung sistemang capital sa buong daigdig nanghihina. Alam mo naman ang Pilipinas eh lulutang dahil sa pautang pero pag nahirapan nang mangutang tapos yung mga remittance kukulangin na dahil ang mga gobyerno ng bansang nasa krisis yung pag-intake nila ng overseas contract workers hihina..." Sison explained.

Until now, the NDFP is still waiting for the release of its 17 political consultants who are protected under the JASIG agreement.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/15/11/ndfp-losing-patience-pnoy

Fil-Dutch group celebrates silver jubilee

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 11/10/2011 11:39 PM | Updated as of 11/10/2011 11:40 PM

THE NETHERLANDS - The silver jubilee of the United Filipino Dutch Association became a celebration of unity and solidarity of the Filipinos in Holland.

The supposedly sit-down formal event became a standing room only as the NH Schiphol Hotel became jampacked as early as 2 hours before the start of the party.

The maximum capacity was 300 but more than 500 guests came from the different parts of Holland, Belgium and Germany.

But despite the crowded venue, nobody expressed anger for not being able to go inside, with some Pinoys setting up seats outside the venue and toasting the milestone.

To celebrate the big event, UFDA prepared a long musical program that also showed the 3 generations of members.

For the first time, there was a cotillion of former presidents of UFDA, a feat which was impossible in the past.

"Nagkaron ng parang reconciliation ang mga nakaraang mga presidente na nawawalan ng time ngayon. Ginawan namin ng paraan para magkasama sama sila at nabuhay ang dati, yung mas matatag na samahan, binuhay ulit namin yon," UFDA president Boy Balmaceda said.

The successful event did not fail to impress the new Philippine ambassador to the Netherlands.

They are capable of getting together, working together, helping each other and I see that it is a good community. I haven't encountered anything which would speak of issues amongst associations, so for this association to have been able to bring together a lot of Filipinos from different groupings in the Netherlands, that is very laudable," Ambassador Lourdes Morales said.

Even comedienne Giselle Sanchez was blown away by UFDA's pull among the Pinoys.

"Napansin ko tong UFDA naibukod nila at ginawa niyang solid ang mga Pilipino. So hindi na masyadong watak-watak ang mga Pilipino sa Amsterdam kundi isang buo na. Nagsasaya," Sanchez said.

Officers of UFDA thanked all their kababayans who came to return the camaraderie that they have given in more than 2 decades.

Balmaceda said that in the last 25 years, UFDA has established a solid and deep friendship with different Pinoys and organizations in Europe.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/11/10/11/fil-dutch-group-celebrates-silver-jubilee

New PH envoy presents credentials to Queen Beatrix of Holland

by Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Posted at 11/03/2011 5:42 PM | Updated as of 11/03/2011 5:42 PM

HOLLAND - A very loud drum roll and three platoons of Royal Palace guards welcomed the arrival of Her Excellency Ambassador Lourdes Morales at the Noordeinde Palace grounds in The Hague.

In all its pomp and glory, Morales stepped down from the horse-drawn royal carriage to enter the gates of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix’s working palace in order to formally present her letter of credence as the new Philippine envoy in The Netherlands.

The ceremony on the palace grounds was colorful and impressive with a special platoon of royal guards as the Philippine national anthem was played first.

This was followed by a general salute given to Morales by the Honor Guard and then the ambassador walked past the three platoons for inspection before finally proceeding to the doorsteps of the palace for the presentation of credentials.

Curious spectators both Dutch and Pinoys filled the barricaded part of the street in order to watch the grand ceremony.

A Filipino couple who was touring Europe was so impressed as it is their first time to watch such a regal event.

“Nanood kami ng pag-courtesy call ng Philippine ambassador sa Queen,” said Nympha Tabo.

“Maganda ang ceremony nila, very colorful,” retired Army General Tabo said.

According to Morales, her mission is to strengthen the economic ties between the Netherlands and the Philippines.

“We would like to further strengthen 'yong relations natin in that area and we would like to see, to further strengthen the presence of the Dutch in the Philippines,” Morales said.

She added that she hopes that she will also gain the full support of her fellow countrymen here in Holland.

“Ang expectation ko is they will be supportive of us and in the same way, they can expect that they can get the same thing from us,” Morales said.

The new ambassador also promised to match, if not to surpass, her predecessors’ very close relations with the Filipino community.

She succeeds Cardozo Luna who left his post.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/11/03/11/new-ph-envoy-presents-credentials-queen-beatrix-holland